Our monthly report sent to the SNCC is available for download.

SDC has begun a policy of publishing answers to questions asked by members of the community at SNCC monthly meetings on its website so that SDC can be certain the answers are available to those with queries.

The following questions were asked by members of the community at the monthly meeting of the SNCC held during August 2025:-

1. Could SDC provide an update on the Community Action Plan (CAP) and the progress
   achieved to date, as no report was received at last night’s meeting?
2. How many applications have been received for the director position as advertised?
3. When is the date of the next SDC meeting and the AGM?

The SDC Board’s answers are below:-

1. Our position with respect to the CAP is unchanged from our monthly report for June 2025. We note that the draft SNCC’s minutes from June 2025 describe our report as “retracted.” This is not case as the subsequent email exchange (prior to approval of the June 2025 minutes) with the SNCC shows. We have not retracted any part of our report.
2. The current trustee application process (now concluded) was to appoint trustees in accordance with Clause 86 of its constitution. Note Clause 73 (c) of SDC’s constitution states that elected trustees must remain in a majority, limiting the maximum number of appointed trustees (once Paul Robinson and Raghnaid Sandilands have stepped down) to 3. The identity of SDC members making an application is a confidential matter under GDPR. Because we live in a small community, the identities of unsuccessful applicants could be inferred if SDC revealed the number of applicants. This would also result in a breach of GDPR. Therefore the total number of applicants will not be released.
3. The date of SDC’s next AGM will be circulated to all members and generally around the Strathnairn community in the manner and at the time described in SDC’s constitution. The next meeting date of the SDC Board is determined approximately at the time of the previous meeting. As most trustees are working parents, meetings have to be juggled around the need to provide childcare and are frequently re-scheduled. The SDC Board has held a meeting on the 11th September 2025, a meeting that had to be brought forward due to precisely these issues.

The expertise and knowledge of SDC has been recognised across the Highlands and Islands with requests from various places for help and advice with regard to wind farm developments, conversion of churches into heritage centres, affordable housing, etc.

This has been acknowledged with our Chair being elected by the 350 Development Trusts in Scotland to the Board of the Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS). This will involve Mike in directly influencing and developing national policy and strategy for communities across Scotland, and allow us to be at the forefront of innovations and networking to the benefit of the people of Strathnairn.

Mike’s new role will not affect his role as SDC’s Chair.

We look forward to seeing you at the Farr Gala, come and talk to us at our stall!

We are delighted to welcome three new trustees to the Board of Strathnairn Development Company appointed after the call for expressions of interest earlier in the summer.

Each of the new trustees: Iain Campbell, Hilary Lacroix, Seonaidh Mackenzie, brings experiences of life in Strathnairn and of the wider world that undoubtedly enriches our collective skills and complements the existing trustees.

We are excited to be taking forward the SDC strategy with our new colleagues, continuing to deliver the community’s hopes for sustainable development expressed in the Community Action Plan (CAP). We will be especially focusing on affordable housing, active travel, wellbeing, culture and heritage but, of course, we need a CDO to deliver the CAP as it cannot be delivered based on the efforts of the trustees alone.

Feasgar math,

After running Gaelic Beginners’ classes last year, we are asking if there is interest in doing this again, and in having Intermediate or Conversation classes.

So if you might be interested in attending any such course, could you please complete this simple form? Any problems, please let us know.

Tapadh leibh

A shout-out to the Farr Gala Committee who are putting on this year’s Gala. The Farr Gala is happening on the 20th September 2025, from 12–5pm on the Farr Hall playing fields.

Please check their Facebook Page for further details.

SDC will also be there with a stall. Please come and talk to us.

SDC has been asked to pass on a message regarding a test of the UK Government’s Emergency Alert System this coming weekend. Below is the text of the message we have received.

The UK government is testing the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September 2025 at 3pm.

Your mobile phone or tablet will vibrate and make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent. The alert message will confirm this is a test and that you do not need to take any further action.

Regular testing ensures the system is functioning correctly, should it need to be used in a life-threatening emergency. Find out more at gov.uk/alerts.

You can opt out of the Emergency Alerts, including the national test, but you should keep them switched on for your own safety.

Emergency Alerts will warn you via your mobile or tablet if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby. Only the government and the emergency services are able to send them.

There are simple and effective steps we can all take to be more prepared for an emergency. Visit gov.uk/prepare for advice on how you can prepare.

SDC recommends that all readers check that their family and friends are aware.

Posters and other media have gone up around the community as SDC seeks to recruitment more trustees.

A copy of the poster is available from this website.

SDC has published its monthly report for April 2025 that was shared with the SNCC at its last meeting.

If you have any comments please email us.